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In the last 5 years or so, I've noticed more and more Dojo's are outlining their mats with river rocks. Does anyone know where this started? Is it an old or new idea? What is the main idea behind this.

I like it, stepping over the rocks makes you take a moment of pause to realize that you are beginning training.

Seems pretty stupid to me. I can't count the number of times in my life that I've been thrown onto the edge of the tatami/mat. If there had been river rocks there, I wouldn't be walking around today.... I've been in dojo in a significant number of countries and mats up against walls are pretty common, wooden spacers, etc. covered with carpet & padding also common, windows with wood barriers, etc. at mid-arm height to keep you from going through them pretty common, etc. but even the worst designed mat areas never had rocks around the edge of the mat!

Never seen rocks as an outside border before but we did have a decent sized rock water fountain/pond in the back corner of of the dojo next to the mat. Probably once a year, some one would be tossed and roll up into it.

Never seen it before. I would imagine it would be pretty, but not very efficient. I trained at a dojo once where canvas was stretched across the mat and tied down via these cords that are tied into these metal screws with a loop on one end. I got thrown onto one of those and it HURT.

Ha, now I'm really wondering where the idea came from. David Valadez has rocks at the front of his mat. Several pictures I've seen of late have had rocks around the mat. And when I told one of my students I was going to revamp the mat at Aikido of Fresno, he quickly asked if I was going to put rocks around the mat.

I have been wondering if there was a traditional aspect to it, or if it's a new fad that is popping up.

Are you talking about large rocks placed on the floor or small river stones filling in a gap around the mat, like a few inches wide and couple inches deep? If it is the latter, I have seen this as a decorating style in Japanese architecture magazines, I think it has to do with blurring the boundary between inside and outside.

Are you talking about large rocks placed on the floor or small river stones filling in a gap around the mat, like a few inches wide and couple inches deep? If it is the latter, I have seen this as a decorating style in Japanese architecture magazines, I think it has to do with blurring the boundary between inside and outside.

Indeed the latter. Small river rocks, that make a boundary around the mat. I'll try and dig up some photos.